OnScreen Review: ‘Clair de Lune’
In finishing the short film ‘Clair de Lune’, I was promptly reminded once again about the fragility of the human condition and how even the tiniest bit of new information can forever alter how humans see the world.
Periodically, I like to return to the telling, reading, and viewing of a story whether it’s shared as a one act play, short film, or brief narrative. I believe artists will sometimes welcome this opportunity to sharpen their skills and remember the basics of telling a good story without it becoming a 2 – 3-hour play, blockbuster film or a 1000-page tome.
There is much to enjoy and to appreciate in ‘Clair de Lune’ which appeared as a labour of love of those involved in its making. It is richly filmed and sharply edited respectively by Clint D’Souza and Bonnie Anderson. I especially liked how the camera finely captured various items on the set which accentuated some of the themes therein. For example, there was a shot of a calendar with the picture of the family on top and underneath was written: “We do not remember days…we remember moments.”
And ‘Clair de Lune’ captured some worthy moments for me.
The transitions between each of the scenes are seamless and heightened my interest to see where this story was headed. Laurent Guerin’s underscored music thankfully never overpowered any of the dialogue. There are moments where the underscored music is haunting especially at the conclusion of the film with Ms. Lecomte singing the final song ‘Perdue’ (Lost).
Valerie Lecomte is one busy lady with the production of this film. She has smartly written and directed it, shares in its co-production, and plays protagonist Claire, a successful real estate agent. When she arrives home from work and begins to prepare dinner with her daughter, Amy (Charlotte Tapin), Claire learns her son, Alex (Evan Assailly-Lecomte) was acting weird at school that day, according to his sister. Later over the evening dinner, Alex finally reveals there was a guest speaker at his school that day, a blind woman with her guide dog, who bears a striking resemblance to his mother.
Claire becomes intrigued with this information shared at the dinner table that night, especially after she sees how Alex has been tremendously affected by this possible doppelganger. She goes to the school to watch the recording a student has made of the presentation and is amazed at what she sees. Husband, Mark (Peter Mazzucco) encourages his wife to visit her mother, Evelyn (Diana Leblanc) with whom Claire has had a sometimes hot and cold relationship.
Performances in this film are genuine and believable. Ms. Lecomte is charming and lovely as the mother who wants to get to the bottom of this mystery. Peter Mazzucco is a compassionate and tender Mark who wants what’s best for Claire. Evan Assailly-Lecomte and Charlotte Tapin are believable in their chemistry as brother and sister.
It is in the final moments of the film where I was captivated by the charismatic performance of Diana Leblanc, Gemini award-winning and Governor General Performing Arts Award artist, as Claire’s frosty mother, Evelyn. With her dark sunglasses and puffy eyes, Ms. Leblanc is in masterful control of these viscerally raw and emotional few minutes. There is profound tension when Claire asks her mother point-blank questions and Evelyn does not immediately respond, but instead just stares out over the water before slowly answering the questions.
What a terrific acting lesson to watch between these two ladies. Ms. Leblanc never upstages Ms. Lecomte as she slowly begins to put pieces together about the past. The final moment and exchange between these two ladies on a bench overlooking the water is pure artistic and film mastery at hand.
‘Clair de Lune’ plays next at Cinefranco Francophone International Film Festival November 23-26 at https://www.cinefranco.com/shorts-1
The film has is the winner of BEST FAMILY SHORT FILM and BEST YOUNG ACTRESS for Charlotte Tapin at the Silk Road Film Awards – August 2020. Valerie Lecomte was the winner of the BEST DIRECTOR SHORT FILM at the Silk Road Film Awards – September 2020.
The film is the winner of BEST CANADAIN FILM Award at Montreal Independent Film Festival – October 2020
The film is the winner of BEST REALISTIC FILM at Reale Film Festival – Monthly Awards – Miliano-Italia – November 2020.
Still photos of the cast provided by www.iridisproductions.com.